SPEAK Find Your Voice in the Ecuadorian Andes
Last Chance
SPEAK Find Your Voice in the Ecuadorian Andes
Cahuasquí, Ecuador
Up to 8 in group
July 30 - August 4, 2025
Retreat Highlights
- Daily public speaking workshops led by Jo Richards, TEDx Speaker Coach & Speaking Confidence Mentor
- Transformational voice & embodiment practices to help you connect with your authentic expression
- The opportunity to connect with the power of your authentic voice in a safe and supportive environment
- Stunning accommodations in the Ecuadorian Andes, with panoramic views & soul-soothing natural beauty
- Excursion to Chachimbiro thermal baths — relax in healing waters surrounded by volcanic landscapes
- Tour of the local Bodega Organica, showcasing regenerative farming and artisanal production
- Farm-to-table meals prepared with fresh, local ingredients — nourishing, organic, and delicious
- Connection with a community of like-hearted people committed to growth and expression
- One-on-one coaching session with Jo to receive personalised support for your voice, story, or speaking goals
About this Retreat
Your Guides
Jo Richards is a Speaking Confidence Coach, TEDx Speaker Coach, Speech Writer, Storyteller, and Sovereignty Mentor who helps leaders, changemakers, and visionaries speak with courage, clarity, and connection. Her work is rooted in the belief that when people raise their voices from a place of authenticity and grounded presence, they create real impact — and reclaim their power.
Jo is deeply passionate about personal agency, boundaries, and cultivating spaces where people feel truly seen and heard. Her coaching empowers women and marginalized voices to own their stories and speak with unapologetic truth and presence.
As a hearing child of Deaf adults (CODA) and a bilingual member of the Deaf community, Jo brings a rare and embodied understanding of communication. She draws on the profound wisdom of Deaf culture — presence, connection, and deep listening beyond words — infusing every space she holds with attentiveness and care.
With a rich and varied background as a professional Auslan interpreter, radio presenter, and stage manager (including working with some of the world’s finest storytellers in Dublin), Jo has spent over 12 years facilitating creative, collaborative workshops grounded in human-centered design. She studied physical theatre at the internationally renowned Jacques Lecoq Theatre School in Paris and has performed on stages in Scotland and Sydney.
Jo’s approach seamlessly weaves together storytelling, somatic and presence-based practices, and a lifetime of experience in holding space for meaningful transformation. Whether she’s coaching TEDx speakers, crafting talks that move hearts and minds, or guiding people to reconnect with their voices, her work is anchored in one core belief:
Curiosity is a gift — and through it, we make space for voice, truth, and true belonging.
Details of this retreat
Set against the breathtaking backdrop of the sacred Ecuadorian Andes, this is more than a retreat — it’s a homecoming to your truest voice. In this immersive and transformational journey, you'll reconnect with what matters most to you — your values, your message, your unique presence — and learn to speak it with confidence, clarity, and unapologetic truth.
Guided by an internationally experienced public speaking coach, TEDx talk writer, storyteller, actress, and sovereignty mentor, you’ll be deeply seen, heard, and supported as you reclaim your voice from the inside out.
Through expert coaching, embodied practices, and heart-opening connection, you’ll gain the tools to:
- Speak with ease on stage or social media
- Navigate hard conversations with clarity and courage
- Trust your voice in any room, moment, or audience
- Show up as the most grounded, expressed version of yourself
With humor, compassion, and deep reverence for your humanity, this retreat is a sanctuary for expression — a place to remember that your voice is sacred, powerful, and completely your own.
Guided by an internationally experienced public speaking coach, TEDx talk writer, storyteller, actress, and sovereignty mentor, you’ll be deeply seen, heard, and supported as you reclaim your voice from the inside out.
Through expert coaching, embodied practices, and heart-opening connection, you’ll gain the tools to:
- Speak with ease on stage or social media
- Navigate hard conversations with clarity and courage
- Trust your voice in any room, moment, or audience
- Show up as the most grounded, expressed version of yourself
With humor, compassion, and deep reverence for your humanity, this retreat is a sanctuary for expression — a place to remember that your voice is sacred, powerful, and completely your own.
Schedule
Sample retreat schedule
Wednesday 30th July
Arrive anytime from 1pm 4pm-5pm Welcome Session
6pm Dinner
Optional Campfire
Thursday 1st August
7am Yoga (optional) 8am Breakfast
10am - 12pm Session 1
12pm Lunch
2pm - 4pm Session 2
4:30pm Walk to the stunning natural bridge
6:30pm Dinner
Friday 2nd August
7am Yoga (optional)
8am Breakfast
10am - 12pm Session 3
12pm Lunch
2pm - 4pm Hot Springs Visit or Free time
6:30pm Dinner
Saturday 3rd August
7am Yoga (optional)
8am-9am Breakfast
10am - 12pm Session 4
12pm Lunch
2pm - 3:30pm Session 5
4:00pm Tour of Bodega Organica
6:30pm Dinner
Sunday 4th August
7am Yoga (optional)
8am Breakfast
10am - 12pm Session 6
12pm Lunch
2pm - 4pm Session 7
6pm Dinner
Celebration & Storytelling around the Campfire
Monday 5th August
7am Yoga (optional)
8am Breakfast 9am - 10:00am
Session 8 Closing and farewells.
** The program will be tailored to the needs/desires of the participants
Wednesday 30th July
Arrive anytime from 1pm 4pm-5pm Welcome Session
6pm Dinner
Optional Campfire
Thursday 1st August
7am Yoga (optional) 8am Breakfast
10am - 12pm Session 1
12pm Lunch
2pm - 4pm Session 2
4:30pm Walk to the stunning natural bridge
6:30pm Dinner
Friday 2nd August
7am Yoga (optional)
8am Breakfast
10am - 12pm Session 3
12pm Lunch
2pm - 4pm Hot Springs Visit or Free time
6:30pm Dinner
Saturday 3rd August
7am Yoga (optional)
8am-9am Breakfast
10am - 12pm Session 4
12pm Lunch
2pm - 3:30pm Session 5
4:00pm Tour of Bodega Organica
6:30pm Dinner
Sunday 4th August
7am Yoga (optional)
8am Breakfast
10am - 12pm Session 6
12pm Lunch
2pm - 4pm Session 7
6pm Dinner
Celebration & Storytelling around the Campfire
Monday 5th August
7am Yoga (optional)
8am Breakfast 9am - 10:00am
Session 8 Closing and farewells.
** The program will be tailored to the needs/desires of the participants
Note: Schedule is approximate and may change
Getting Here
Jo Richards, Cahuasquí, Ecuador
Directions
There are many ways to arrive to Cahuasqui by bus, depending where you are in Mexico. Buses run from Ibarra to Cahuasqui regularly. Reach out for detailed instructions.
If flying in to Quito airport, transfer is included.
Driving from Quito is approximately 3.3o hours.
If flying in to Quito airport, transfer is included.
Driving from Quito is approximately 3.3o hours.
Accommodation
La Casita Private Cabin Step into our beautifully crafted one-bedroom cabin, designed for two, nestled in the heart of the picturesque town of Cahuasquí. This brand-new retreat offers sweeping views of the majestic Andes — a perfect place to rest, reflect, and reconnect with nature. Enjoy the comfort of a luxurious queen-sized bed where you can drift off to sleep in deep peace and wake to the gentle chorus of birdsong. The cabin is fully furnished and features a well-equipped kitchen, ideal for both short and extended stays. One of the cabin’s most special features? A stunning glass-ceilinged bathroom where you can shower under the sky — bathed in sunlight by day and starlight by night. With all modern amenities and soul-nourishing surroundings, this cozy haven is the perfect blend of comfort, beauty, and tranquility. Talavera Shared Cabin Tranquil Farmhouse Retreat with Panoramic Andes Views This custom-built home, crafted with local materials and intention, is nestled in the serene agricultural town of Cahuasquí. Surrounded by sweeping views and the sounds of birdsong, it’s a peaceful haven to slow down, breathe deeply, and feel at home in nature. Inside, you’ll find two comfortable double bedrooms, a spacious kitchen perfect for cooking and gathering, and soaring high ceilings that bring in light and a sense of spaciousness. Relax in the cozy lounge or step outside to take in the breathtaking scenery from one of two private terraces overlooking the Andes. Lovingly created and full of warmth, this unique home radiates positive energy and rustic charm. It offers both privacy and connection — ideal for rest, reflection, or creativity. Camping If you have your own camping gear you are welcome to pitch a tent on the property. There are plenty of green spaces and a spectacular glamping platform overlooking the andes. Separate Shower and Toilet available. Access to communal kitchen.
Private Cabin
Talavera - Private Room (Shared Cabin)
Shared Cabin Dorm Style
Camping - bring your own tent
Venue & Amenities
A/C in Rooms
Free Wifi
Spa
Sauna
Pool
Towels
Free Parking
Kitchen
Tour Assistance
Hot Tub
Coffee/Tea
Cafe
Restaurant
Fitness Center
Yoga Studio
Housekeeping
Bicycles For Rent
Panoramic views of the Ecuadorian Andes, offering breathtaking sunrises, starry nights, and constant inspiration
Beautiful, hand-built cabins made with local materials — each space is unique, cozy, and full of character
Immersed in nature and tranquility, with birdsong, open skies, and deep peace all around
Beautiful, hand-built cabins made with local materials — each space is unique, cozy, and full of character
Immersed in nature and tranquility, with birdsong, open skies, and deep peace all around
Meals
Menu Types
Vegan
Vegetarian
Pescetarian
Ayurvedic
Includes Meat
Organic
Gluten Free
Dairy Free
Nut Free
Breakfast lunch and dinner are included as well as snacks and tea/coffee throughout the day.
Meals will be lovingly prepared each day and include nourishing, hearty vegetarian dishes.
What's Included
- Daily public speaking masterclasses, professional speaker coaching & practice sessions to anchor you into your voice, your knowing, your confidence in taking the stage, showing up on social media & in life with greater confidence in your voice. .
- Somatic and nervous system tools to regulate on and off stage
- One-on-one coaching and group witnessing so you can get used to being
- SEEN and heard.
- Morning yoga to ground and open the body
- Three nourishing vegetarian meals a day, made with local ingredientsAll excursions (hotsprings, bodega organica)
- Airport transfers to and from the retreat to Quito
What's Not Included
- **accommodation & airfares not included